Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1887-12-08
Abiding in Christ.

Some there are who abide in Christ osten-
sibly, not really. They profess to be con-
nected with Him, but there is no vital union
between them and Him Christ does not
Immediately disown any that profess to come
to Him. It was long before He disowned
Judas. These are the days of His long suffer
ing; the day Of irrevocable Judgment has not
yet dawned The branch which does not
yield fruit, and which affords no indications
that it is about to yield fruit, is still, perhaps
suffered for season to remain, if peradven-
ture it may receive the vivifying influence Of
the vine. When it has been fully tried it is
removed.
Think not, O believer, that thou art in no
danger of being found out of Christ He that
thinketh he standeth is welcome to think so,
but only let him take heed lest he fall. With
out much PRAYER, much self-denial, you cam
not abide in Christ To abide in Christ it is
necessary to attach the highest Importance to
communion with Christ; and you know there
are thousand currents sweeping through
YOU every day all hostile to this. A single
trivial, scarce-noticed impulse of your heart
is capable of leading you where you will lind
it difficult to realize the presence and the
grace of the Saviour. Seek constantly to
have in mind how important, in the eyes OF
communion with Him. Happy the believer
who is held fast to Christ by the attraction
Of Christ.
Let us beware how we suffer coldness
to spring up between us and our fellow
Christians. Inasmuch asye suffer it between
yourself and one of the least of these My
brethren, ye suffer it between yourself and
Me. Be reconciled to thy brother, or meet
My frown.
| Let us prefer Jerusalem before our chief
! Joy, and give all heed to every proposition
| that invokes our aid in behalf Of the Church
| of Christ, the bride of the Lamb. Ii our
| brethren say to us, let us go speedily to pray
before the Lord Of hosts, let us beware how
| we remain Indifferent.
1t may be that Jesus shall take a forward
movement, and require the Church te
move at quicker pace than that to which
she has been accustomed. Let her be care
! full lest she be left behind. Sand they were
in the way going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus
went before them: and they were amazed
and as they followed, they were afraid.
! There comes time when the former meas
ures of faith, hope, love and prayer are In
| adequate wherein what formerly was life
is now not life, what was before rejected.
The time for walking in the
wilderness is past, the time for entering
! Canaan is come. The voice of the Captain
of the host of the Lord is heard, saying, B,
strong, and of good courage; be thou strong
and very courageous; be strong in the Lord
/ and in the power of His might; be strong
quit yourselves like men" There is danger
at such an hour lest the Christian refuse tt
i believe in the hour and its new duties, anG
Il insist that as he has his abode in Christ, st
he may abide in Christ But Christ in tht
4 new hour now given to His church, will wal
for no man. They who are with Him ar,
called and chosen and faithful; the wis
i virgins, with their lamps trimmed, shal
move swiftly on in the procession with th,